Considering Pride out of Baltimore - in the Winter .. Crazy?

We've never sailed out of any "cold weather" port before, but I've talked to family and friends who have, and most say they would not do it again because 2-3 days are "wasted" getting to the warmer weather. Now, I take most things with a grain of salt, so I am asking about experiences for those who have sailed this particular ship on this particular itinerary.

 

Sailing out of Baltimore during the Winter (have not decided on a date, but it will be Dec, Jan, or Feb).

Stops: Port Canaveral and Bahamas (x2)

Days at Sea - 2 at the beginning, 1 at the end

 

My questions are around balcony cabins and outdoor options.

 

Do people just do inside activities for those sea days - or do they have some sections outside that are suitable for pax. I understand there is a retractable roof - but are there heaters? Pools closed until we hit warmer weather? Can you even access the outside portions (assuming we are dressed appropriately, of course.

 

Seem like kind of silly questions, but really, if 3 days is spend indoors - then this takes a bit away from the experience.

 

also - sailing out of Baltimore - looks like a long haul to the open ocean - might be a nice view? (again - is there a suitable area to watch sailaway from - being winter.

 

Thanks in advance for your opinions and experience - this is new to me.

 

Cheers!

We will be doing our 5th winter cruise on the Carnival Pride in 2018. We have done four others; 3 in February, 1 in March.

We've been very lucky with weather. Our first two we had cold weather in Baltimore, no snow, and we were on the balcony by Tuesday (we left Balt. on Sun.). The third Feb., as we were pulling out of Baltimore, we had snow falling very lightly on the decks, and we did Muster Drill indoors in various places on the ship; we had muster in the MDR. I think that year, there was some snow predicted while we were making our way to Nassau, but by the time we returned to Baltimore, our car was shoveled out, streets and highways were clear, etc.

Not sure what itinerary you're choosing, but each time we cruised in Feb., the weather in Florida was in the low seventies, Nassau was in the mid 80's, and Freeport was warmer than that.

We find plenty to do on the first day and a half inside. We don't have kids with us. We do spend a little time in the Casino. We're not pool people, but we do sit in the pool area with the retractable roof. I don't remember being cold, and people were definitely in the pool. I don't think there has ever been a time where we couldn't go out on deck as long as it was safe, and it wasn't too cold to be outside.

Here's another thing..we live in Penna., about 1 hr., 45 min. from the Port of Baltimore. Because there is always that chance of bad weather in Feb., we go to Baltimore the day before the cruise. We stay at a Park and Cruise hotel, and we can leave our car at the hotel for a week. The deal also includes a shuttle to take you to the port the day of the cruise, and pick-up at the port after the cruise and return us to the hotel to pick-up our car. We don't want to take any chances.

All in all, we love cruising in February and March. We've never had any problem. The Pride is also our favorite ship; the crew is great, the price is right, and being able to get away in the winter without flying to a port is another plus for us.

Have a great time on the cruise.

We will be doing our 5th winter cruise on the Carnival Pride in 2018. We have done four others; 3 in February, 1 in March.

 

We've been very lucky with weather. Our first two we had cold weather in Baltimore, no snow, and we were on the balcony by Tuesday (we left Balt. on Sun.). The third Feb., as we were pulling out of Baltimore, we had snow falling very lightly on the decks, and we did Muster Drill indoors in various places on the ship; we had muster in the MDR. I think that year, there was some snow predicted while we were making our way to Nassau, but by the time we returned to Baltimore, our car was shoveled out, streets and highways were clear, etc.

 

Not sure what itinerary you're choosing, but each time we cruised in Feb., the weather in Florida was in the low seventies, Nassau was in the mid 80's, and Freeport was warmer than that.

 

We find plenty to do on the first day and a half inside. We don't have kids with us. We do spend a little time in the Casino. We're not pool people, but we do sit in the pool area with the retractable roof. I don't remember being cold, and people were definitely in the pool. I don't think there has ever been a time where we couldn't go out on deck as long as it was safe, and it wasn't too cold to be outside.

 

Here's another thing..we live in Penna., about 1 hr., 45 min. from the Port of Baltimore. Because there is always that chance of bad weather in Feb., we go to Baltimore the day before the cruise. We stay at a Park and Cruise hotel, and we can leave our car at the hotel for a week. The deal also includes a shuttle to take you to the port the day of the cruise, and pick-up at the port after the cruise and return us to the hotel to pick-up our car. We don't want to take any chances.

 

All in all, we love cruising in February and March. We've never had any problem. The Pride is also our favorite ship; the crew is great, the price is right, and being able to get away in the winter without flying to a port is another plus for us.

 

Have a great time on the cruise.

We are very similar to you, except about an extra 1hr30 from port. We also are doing a park & cruise with shuttle both ways. Glad to hear Nassau and Freeport should be 80's or higher for our February/March trip.

We're going in February next year and figure to just spend time inside until the weather is nice enough outside. Since we'll be coming from dead Vermont winter it should be nice outside on the second sea day.

I use to sail on the Pride a lot out of Baltimore. Now I sail the Anthem out of Bayonne NJ. One trip on the Pride we left in a snow storm. The Pride was covered in snow. They have one pool covered and its heated.

Personally, I will never do a winter cruise again. We sailed out of NYC in mid Feb (it was an exceptionally cold week) two years ago on a 9 night cruise. The first day and a half were freezing and the ocean was so rough. They had all the decks closed off and most people, including myself, were incredibily sea sick. Same thing on the way back, the last day and a half was spent inside as well. So I would say that a balcony would not be worth it in the winter at all.

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I did a winter sailing out of Baltimore (January) because it was dirt cheap, me and a few family members had the time and I didn't have the expenses that go along with flying. Was it fun? Yep. Was it cold? Heck yah! FREEZING for the first few days out and the last day back. We had a balcony room (again, dirt cheap) and we literally froze sitting on it with our winter coats layered under our awesome thick Carnival bathrobes. But, oh such fun still.

Itinerary is, IMHO, the worst ever. Orlando, Nassau and Freeport. We did the Disney excursion and were so bummed so many rides, etc were closed. Felt ripped off for the price.

Did lots of swimming in the main pool on the cold days (3 out of 7) with the roof closed of course. It was steamy in there from condensation and the water was rather chilly. Honestly, we hardly ever saw anyone swimming but us crazy New Englanders. (advice: have cozy Carnival bathrobes within very close proximity upon leaving the pool, brrrr)

Would I do it again? Only if it was super inexpensive, I could afford to gain a few pounds, and my fun family members were coming along!

Do it!.....We cruised out of Baltimore at the end of January in 2012, yes it was a little cold and WINDY sailing down the Chesaspeke Bay--but we just cozied up with books and magazines. It warmed up by the time we hit the Carolina's and it was plenty nice at Port Canaveral (Kennedy Space Center was amazing) the Bahamas were warm as well. I loved it!

Im a old timer. I can remember a blizzard hitting Baltimore, and if you didnt have a hotel right at the port you didnt go out even though they held the ship. People who lived in Baltimore, their streets didnt get the snow removed, couldnt get to the port and they lived there.

People on here were furious with Carnival who couldnt get on the ship. Only a few of the main roads did the snow plow clear, so if you werent right there near the port, oooops.

Its not like it wasnt forecast, but I well remember that cruise, just because so many missed the ship and thought carnival owed them a refund. dozens of threads.

you needed to have flown in lke 2 or 3 days before the blizzard hit, forget now, because planes were cancelled too until too late to make the ship.

Im a old timer. I can remember a blizzard hitting Baltimore, and if you didnt have a hotel right at the port you didnt go out even though they held the ship. People who lived in Baltimore, their streets didnt get the snow removed, couldnt get to the port and they lived there.

 

People on here were furious with Carnival who couldnt get on the ship. Only a few of the main roads did the snow plow clear, so if you werent right there near the port, oooops.

 

Its not like it wasnt forecast, but I well remember that cruise, just because so many missed the ship and thought carnival owed them a refund. dozens of threads.

 

you needed to have flown in lke 2 or 3 days before the blizzard hit, forget now, because planes were cancelled too until too late to make the ship.

Good to have you back Firefly. Wish you were around for Harvey and Irma to remind us that; just because you avoid traveling during hurricane season, your cruise Itinerary is not locked in stonez

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Good to have you back Firefly. Wish you were around for Harvey and Irma to remind us that; just because you avoid traveling during hurricane season, your cruise Itinerary is not locked in stonez

 

 

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Hi neal, yea long time no see, i remember some local thread you and I used to post on. good to see ya.

I need some meds in Belize. Its just easier to go on a cruise than dealing with the doctor and insurance. Plan on picking up some scotch for a meet up group i belong to, where seems to be mostly scotch drinkers. lol, im going to shop.

They gave me a list of good scotches, though I have no idea what onboard carries to buy. Ill probably buy some onboard and one in cozumel is my current plan. They smoke cigars but I hear sadly no good deals, cheaper online, so ill probably just bring some scotch back for them.

Im one that was on carnival when that hurricane hit Galveston and never saw my car again. shhhh about hurricanes. We left on sunday but others left later in the week on Ecstasy and carnival wouldnt let people cancel, and we assumed it would pass on by, wrong, the last 24 hours it made a turn and hit galveston. I got off in New Orleans, not knowing that had i stayed on, they opened Houston and about 300 who didnt get off got to get back to Texas, but probably harder to find a rental car. That was fun, NOT. lol.

Yep, I know all about bad weather and missing ports.

Cant wait

Wow..I'm a little surprised to learn that so many people would not sail on the Pride in the winter again! We did this trip four years ago....it was frigid outside and snowing when we left port.....LOL....but we bundled up and went up on the top deck to watch as we sailed toward and under the Chesapeake Bay Bridge! It was one of the coolest experiences of my life! I have driven that bridge my whole life and I discovered things about that bridge and the surrounding area that I never knew. My granddaughter still talks about that cruise. We swam in the pool with snow on the retractable roof over our heads:) My granddaughter and I explored every inch of that ship while hubby, daughter, and son-in-law checked out adult activities....she and I went to the salon and had pedicures as we sailed down the Chesapeake Bay toward the ocean and looked out the ceiling-to-floor windows at the scenery. My husband loved the casino...we went to shows and games/activities. We used the hot tubs on the ship several times. We had excursions planned at each of the ports and the weather was great. This was about a year before the ship was renovated so we are planning to do it again in about 16 months:) The only real time it was too cold to use our balcony was the first and second day...by the third day we were far enough south to be warm again:) And on the way home, it didn't get cold until the night before we returned to port. For a price comparison, it would cost my husband and I less than $1500 for a 7-day out of Baltimore as compared to more than double that out of FL in February 2019. With that being said, I'm going to look at Radio's review to see what could possibly go wrong! :-)

Im a old timer. I can remember a blizzard hitting Baltimore, and if you didnt have a hotel right at the port you didnt go out even though they held the ship. People who lived in Baltimore, their streets didnt get the snow removed, couldnt get to the port and they lived there.

 

People on here were furious with Carnival who couldnt get on the ship. Only a few of the main roads did the snow plow clear, so if you werent right there near the port, oooops.

 

Its not like it wasnt forecast, but I well remember that cruise, just because so many missed the ship and thought carnival owed them a refund. dozens of threads.

 

you needed to have flown in lke 2 or 3 days before the blizzard hit, forget now, because planes were cancelled too until too late to make the ship.

You are correct, that was quite a storm, over 30 inches I believe. I think the ship ended up leaving with about 600 cruisers on it. There were pics of room stewards shoveling off balconies. Nice to see you back.

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The port of Baltimore was nice and easy to navigate and the Pride is a really nice ship. With that being said we will never sail in the winter months from this port again. Yes, you do feel as if you "lose" a few days due to the cold weather. The retractable pool top is nice and keeps the pool area warmer but the weather is still dreary. The worst for us was the choppiness of the Atlantic Ocean. Of all of our cruises the motion sickness was by far the worst on this cruise. We now fly BWI or Dulles to Florida which is sad when I can drive to Baltimore in under 3 hours.

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How when we cruise we cruise for rest and time away from work. We don't consider it a waste of time of time "losing" time from leaving from Baltimore. We drive their so no airport or aircraft hassles. We have sailed the Pride in the winter and found by the afternoon of the first day the weather is much warmer than NE PA and are outside enjoy the deck and reading a book. The by the afternoon on the last day at sea it starts getting cooler. But with all that said it all depends on mother nature. The one time on a January cruise there was ice in the Chesapeake Bay while another it was nice.

We did a NYE cruise on the Pride this past year and the weather was very nice. Almost balmy.

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I'd do it, as long as I'm fully aware in advance about what it entails

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I sailed out of Baltimore last March. It was a different experience for me since all of my previous cruises have been out of Florida. I just told myself that the first and last days would be cold and to not expect to be able to be out on the deck sunning myself. As long as I remembered what my expectations were it was just fine. We are cruising from Florida this March but I would do a Baltimore departure again because it is so convenient since I live 25 minutes from the port.

I'm doing the Pride from Baltimore on Feb. 4th. I don't mind the winter sailings since I like the casino and will most likely be there on sea days:D:D. Weather is hit or miss no matter what time of year.

I sailed Splendor from NY in Feb.2014 and they were building snowmen on the pool deck! Last Feb. it hit 70 degrees one day.

The itinerary is boring but I've been to the ports a dozen times so will probably stay on the ship for this one.

I really, really miss the Carnival winter sailings from New York:( and have no desire to sail Norwegian or Anthem from Bayonne. This will be a first from Baltimore.

You will be traveling thru the Chesapeake Bay, into the Atlantic... you will be passing Virginia Beach, but it will be dark by then...you may see the hotel lights as you head out to sea....that's when you make the turn into deeper waters. Folks IN Va. Beach can see the cruiseships passing by!

I sailed on the pride in January a few years ago and it was coldddddddd. WE had Muster outside and it was freezing. Not Sure if they are now doing this inside, but in case they are just make sure to be bundled up. The 2 days at sea were OK, just be prepared for crowded common areas on the ship. They certainly tried to have something to do all day, but personally I was quite bored and was tired of trivia and all in a few hours. Forget the hot tubs they were packed. I just don't understand how they do 2 sea days going down to florida and 1 sea day coming home. They can easily make this a 4 port trip. For us to travel it was a whole hour since we dont live far from the port, we took this out of convenience